Marcellus (general under Justinian I)
Encyclopedia
Marcellus was an East Roman (Byzantine)
general during the early reign of Justinian I
(r. 527–565).
Marcellus is first mentioned by Procopius
as taking part under Belisarius
in the Battle of Dara
against the Sassanid Persians in 530. He was one of the commanders of the Byzantine army's right wing. In the Vandalic War
of 533–534, he was one of the commanders of the foederati
detachments, and fought in the battle of Tricamarum and (presumably) in the Battle of Ad Decimum
, where the foederati were defeated with great loss by the Vandals.
After the conquest of the Vandal kingdom was complete, Marcellus remained in Africa
, and by 536 he was appointed to the post of dux Numidia
e, while sharing command over the foederati of Numidia with Cyril. In summer 536 he set out to confront the rebel Stotzas
, but he convinced Marcellus' soldiers to desert, and Marcellus with the other officers sought sanctuary at a local church. Stotzas convinced them to surrender on guarantees for their safety, but as soon as they did so, they were executed.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
general during the early reign of Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
(r. 527–565).
Marcellus is first mentioned by Procopius
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
as taking part under Belisarius
Belisarius
Flavius Belisarius was a general of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental to Emperor Justinian's ambitious project of reconquering much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century previously....
in the Battle of Dara
Battle of Dara
The Battle of Dara was fought between the Sassanids and the Byzantine Empire in 530. It was one of the battles of the Iberian War.- Background :...
against the Sassanid Persians in 530. He was one of the commanders of the Byzantine army's right wing. In the Vandalic War
Vandalic War
The Vandalic War was a war fought in North Africa, in the areas of modern Tunisia and eastern Algeria, in 533-534, between the forces of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Vandal Kingdom of Carthage...
of 533–534, he was one of the commanders of the foederati
Foederati
Foederatus is a Latin term whose definition and usage drifted in the time between the early Roman Republic and the end of the Western Roman Empire...
detachments, and fought in the battle of Tricamarum and (presumably) in the Battle of Ad Decimum
Battle of Ad Decimum
The Battle of Ad Decimum took place on September 13, 533 between the armies of the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, and the Eastern Roman Empire , under the command of general Belisarius. This event and events in the following year are sometimes jointly referred to as the Battle of Carthage, one...
, where the foederati were defeated with great loss by the Vandals.
After the conquest of the Vandal kingdom was complete, Marcellus remained in Africa
Praetorian prefecture of Africa
The praetorian prefecture of Africa was a major administrative division of the Eastern Roman Empire, established after the reconquest of northwestern Africa from the Vandals in 533-534 by emperor Justinian I...
, and by 536 he was appointed to the post of dux Numidia
Numidia
Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
e, while sharing command over the foederati of Numidia with Cyril. In summer 536 he set out to confront the rebel Stotzas
Stotzas
Stotzas , also Stutias, was an East Roman soldier and leader of a military rebellion in the Praetorian prefecture of Africa.-Life:...
, but he convinced Marcellus' soldiers to desert, and Marcellus with the other officers sought sanctuary at a local church. Stotzas convinced them to surrender on guarantees for their safety, but as soon as they did so, they were executed.